Using my 1930's Fabrics for Clothing, not Quilts!

I’ve been digging around in my quilting stash for fabrics to make other projects. I just made 2 projects using my stash of reproduction 1930s fabrics. I love these reproduction fabrics, but since most of my recent quilts have had a modern edge, I just haven’t been using them.

The baby dress above, is made with one of the 1930s reproduction fabrics, with a solid cotton as the interfacing. The pattern is NEWLOOK 6568. This baby dress is a lot like the doll clothes I make. Except, it has a button closure in back, not velcro.

Gasp. Buttons mean making button holes. That’s not a skill in the quilter’s wheelhouse! I knew my second hand Bernina wasn’t up to the task. So I got out my newer Janome Memory Craft 6700P machine, watched a couple YouTube segments and now I can make button holes! Easy Peasy!

Buttons! The button holes aren’t “perfect” but they definitely are good enough!

There is lots of gathering in this sweet little baby dress and I love the flair they give the skirt!

Here’s the other outfit using reproduction 1930s fabrics that I’ve finished recently. This is for the little Waldorf baby doll I designed. it’s a little pioneer outfit.

Prairie outfit for a little Waldorf type doll

I used the tutorial for making prairie bonnet pattern from the blog ScatteredThoughtsofaCraftyMom to draft a tiny bonnet for this doll. Jamie’s instructions are for a custom fit bonnet so it was super simple to use it to make a doll bonnet.

I drafted my own patterns for the dress and apron.

Here’s the back of the Prairie outfit.

This tiny 1930s print is just perfect for this little doll!

I just pulled out another 1930s reproduction, a black fabric with dogs, to make a child’s skirt. I have the perfect pattern….and it has lots of buttons!! So I’ll get more practice making button holes soon!

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Sewing for Toddlers--2 more projects

I've been having fun making some projects for the newest addition to our family.  Now that the baby is coming up on her first birthday, she's at the perfect age for a happy sewing Auntie!

Above is my Petal Fairy.  She is a Waldorf inspired doll.  I created the pattern for the doll.  Her head is 2" tall.  The entire doll is 11" from top of her head (cap not included) to the scalloped petal edge of her gown.  So that makes her longer than the typical ratio of 1:3 for a doll.  But it's looks fine because most of her length is her dress and as we all know, long gowns are beautiful!  She is not stuffed, making her safer for a baby.  She is as much a lovey as a doll. 

I also made her a SeeSaw Dress from FishsticksDesigns.com.  I haven't really used any knits for years so it's fun learning new ways to sew them.  The fabric I used is mostly cotton with 5% Lycra. It's got happy stretch with great rebound. 

 I have a serger but found my regular machine had so many great knit stitches built in, that I didn't bother with the serger. This dress will have a nice drape on a child which isn't really evident on a hanger!  I'll see if I can get a photo of her wearing the dress on Instagram one of these days!

SeeSaw Dress by FishSticksDesigns.com    95%Cotton, 5%Lycra  12 month size